Retarding device for bolt-actuating mechanism



(No Model.)

7 'A. G. BURTON. RETARDING DEVIGE'POR BOLT 'AGTUATING MECHANISM.

Patentd 'Mar-l -13,,.-i1.89 1r UNITE STATES PATENT FFICE.

AUGUSTUS G. BURTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 516,362, dated March 13, 1894. Application filed June 21,1892. Serial N0. 437.492. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS G. BURTON, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Retardin g Devices for Bolt- Actuating Mechanisms; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in retarding devices for controlling the movements of the casting and retracting mechanisms of automatic bolt actuating devices for safes, to prevent jar or concussion of the parts incident to the uncontrolled and unrestrained action of the actuating springs thereof.

I am aware that dash-pots have heretofore been used to effect this purpose, of which instances may be found in the patents to T. M. Brintnall, dated December 21, 1886, No. 354,681, and to J. C. Harris, dated July 30, 1889, No. 407,775. The dash-pots therein shown, however, and all other dash-pots used for the same or analogous purposes, so far as my knowledge extends, consist of a piston working in a cylinder, said piston being connected with the parts, the movementof which it has been desired to control, by means of a piston rod extending through the end or head of the cylinder. It has also been proposed to fill the cylinder with a suitable non-congealable liquid and to so connect the ends of the cylinder that the fluid in either end shall pass slowly to the other end when pressure is applied to the piston. In this form of dash-p'ot, however, it has been found, in practice, that however closely the opening for the piston rod be packed, the liquid therein will gradually escape, it being carried out on the piston rod as the piston moves outwardly and being rubbed off as the rod is forced inwardly.

Another defect present in forms of dash-pol s heretofore used is that they are so constructed as to offer equal resistance to movement of the parts actuated by the casting and retractingspringsin both directions and at all points of their stroke, both at the end thereof when the springsare extended and'weak as well as at the beginning thereof when they are fully compressed and strong.

The object of my invention is to provide a form of dash-pot which will obviate the defects set forth as incident to the forms of dashpot now commonly used, by preventing the escape of the liquid contained in the cavity of the dash-pot and to provide a dash-pot which shall only offer resistance to the movement of the parts actuated by the casting and retracting springs respectively in the direction. only that the unrestrained action thereof would create a jar and shock to the parts and one in which the resistance to the spring will decrease as the springs become more and more extended and therefore weaker.

A device embodying the present invention embraces a wing or fan-shaped piece, attached to a rod or stem in such manner that it will be free to move from side to side of a segmental opening which will be filled with liquid, said wing being so fitted to the chamber in which it is seated, that, as it is moved from side to side thereof it will allow the liquid, in the side toward which it is moved, to flow into the cavity behind it but very slowly, thereby retarding the passage of the wing from side to side of the chamber.

The invention also embraces a suitable valve in said wing which will be closed by the pressure of the liquid in front of it, when it is sought to move the wing in one direction, thus securing the slow action of said wing and a correspondingly slow rotation of the stem on which it is carried, but which will be opened by the pressure of the liquid when it is sought to move the wing in the other or opposite direction and thus allow the liquid to How freely to the other side of the wing, thus practically offering no resistance to the movement of the wing.

The invention also embraces the cutting away of the end of the cavity or the gradual broadening of the space between the side walls thereof in such manner that the space between the wing and the casing in which it is inclosed will become larger as the wing approaches that limit of its movement corresponding to the extended or weak condition of the springs, thus affording more room for the passage of the liquid and decreasing the resistance.

In the accompanying drawings, dash-pots embodying this invention are shown in connection with a safe lock or actuating device of the type heretofore patented to me in Letters Patent of May 15, 1888, No. 383,041.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view of the inner face of a safe door, showing the bolt actuating device and the dash pots forming the subject of this application. Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof,taken on line 2---2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal section of a dash-pot of this improved construction. Fig. 4. is a top plan view thereof, showing the casing in section, and Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-seetion thereof on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

In said drawings, A represents a safe door provided with the usual frame-bars, A, rigidly attached thereto and suitable holes therein in which the lock bolts, B, are adapted to slide horizontally. These look bolts are connected by a carrying-bar, B, to which is secured, in anysuitable manner, the plate, 13*, for connecting said carrying-bar with the actuating device, as hereinafter fully explained.

The actuating device shown is of the type and, substantially, of the construction shown and claimed in patent heretofore issued to the present inventor on the 15th day of May, 1888, No. 383,041; the construction conforming more nearly to the form of lock illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 of said patent.

Secured to the inner surface of the door, in any suitable manner, as by means of screws, 0, is the actuating device, of which 0 represents the casing or shell. Seated in the easing so as to be free to move horizontally in ways or guides, formed in said casing by the sides and the front and back walls thereof, is a sliding plate, D, the lower portion, D, of which extends forward and projects through a hole in the end of the casing adjacent to the carrier-bar, and the end thereof is turned up so as to form a flange, d, which engages the plate B in such manner that a force applied to draw the plate D and projection D thereof within the casing, will also tend to draw the plate li and the carrienbar to which said plate is secured, in a direction to retract the bolts. Rigidly secured in this plate D, and projecting through a slot, 0', in the easing, is a stud, D by means of which the plate D is adapted to be secured in its extended position, as will hereinafter appear.

A second plate, E, likewise free to move horizontally, is seated in guide ways formed by a suitable groove or slot in the plate D and the front wall of the casing. This plate is also adapted to project through a hole in the end of the casing adjacent to the carry ing-bar, and to come in contact with the plate B secured to said carrying-bar, so thata force applied to project said plate E will tend to move the carrying-bar in the same direction. This plate, likewise, is provided with a lock stud, E, adapted to retain said plate E in a retracted position until released, as hereinafter explained. A coiled wire spring, F, is inserted between the plate D and the palte E which, when compressed by suitable means provided, as hereinafter described, will tend to force the plate E against the plate B and the spring, being of sufficient strength, it will thus operate to cast the bolts attached to the carrying-bar, to which the plate B is secured. Inserted between the end of the casing adjacent to the carrying-bar and the end of the plate D remote therefrom, are retracting springs, F, which, when compressed or released, will tend to retract the plate D and the plate B the carrying-bar B and the lockbolts B actuated, for retraction, thereby.

Adjacent to the end of the casing, remote from the carrying-bar, and toward the upper side thereof, as it is secured to the door, is a strong arbor or spindle, G, bearing in the front and back walls of said casing in such manner that it may be rotated, within certain limits, as will hereinafter appear. Rigidly secured to this arbor or spindle is a strong radial wing or projection, G, adapted to bear against the side of the plate D adjacent thereto, and which, by the rotation of the spindle or arbor G in the proper direction, will actuate said plate D in such manner as to compress the oastiug and retracting springs F and F. The end of this arm or wing is curved orbent so that when it hangs loose the end thereof will rest against the end of the casing adjacent thereto and willsupport the arm or wing in such position that the side thereof adjacent to the end of the plate D will be parallel thereto, said arm acting as a stop to arrest the movement of the plate D when impelled by the retracting springs F. The position of the arbor and arm or wing and the relative sizes of the parts of the lock will also be such, preferably, that when the bolts are fully retracted the plate D, being in contact with the arm or wing G, the ends of the plates D and E, adjacent to the carryingbar, will be flush with the end of the case through which they project. The outer end of the arbor or spindle G projects through the front wall of the lock casing and will be squared, as shown at g, or otherwise properly shaped to be grasped by a wrench or key in order that the arbor may be turned so as to com press the casting and retracting springs.

As shown in the drawings, the bolts are cast and the retracting springs compressed so that they will withdraw said bolts when the retaining mechanism is tripped.

In setting the lock, the casting plate E is prevented from forward movement by means of the system of detents H, H',pivoted to the front wall of the lock casing, one of which,I-I, is adapted to engage the stud E on the sliding plate E when said plate is in its retracted position, and the plate D is retained in position to hold the retracting springs in a compressed position by means of the system of detents I, I, 1 I likewise pivoted to the front wall of the lock casing 0, one of which, I, is adapted for engagement with the stud D of the plate D.

A motor, which is not shown in the. drawings, but which may be of any approved construction, will be employed to trip the detents H H and thus release the plate E, allowing it to respond to the casting spring after a space of time has elapsed sufficient to enable the door of the safe to be closed after setting the lock. A tripping finger will connect the system of detents I, I, 1 I with the timing device in such manner that said system will be tripped and the retract-ing springs released, after the lapse of a desired interval of time.

It will be observed that the construction of the detents and the positions of the pivotal points of those intended for engagement with the studs E and D relative to thevline of motion of said studs is such that the retracting of the bolts will operate to cause automatic engagement of the stud E with the detent H, and such that the compression of the springs by the compressing device, will cause the stud D and the detent I to engage; and such also that upon the tripping of either system of detents by the appropriate device provided therefor, the pressure of the stud retained by that system, upon the detent retaining the same, will be such as to cause the disengagement thereof and the consequent release of the plate, the movement of which was prevented thereby.

It is obvious that the casting and retracting springs will necessarily be of considerable strength, and that when released their operation will be very quick and that if stopped suddenly a very considerable shock and jar will be given to the whole mechanism, which conduces not only to rapid wearing of the parts, but to the disarrangement thereof and the throwing thereof out of proper adjustment, and sometimes even to the breaking of the parts. It has been customary heretofore to lessen this jar and shock by placing cushions upon the surfaces which give and receive the blow causing said shock, and, as hereinbefore stated, it has also been proposed to employ dash-pots for the purpose of securing the gradual casting and retraction of said bolts, thus obviatingsaid jar. As also hereinbefore stated, a main feature of the invention forming the subject of this application, is an improved dash-pot for this purpose, which, together with the method and means for attaching the same to the plates of the look, so as to modify their movements, will now be described.

The dash-pot, as herein shown and preferably constructed, consists of a cylindrical casing or barrel, K, cast integral with a base or standard, K, by which it is secured to the inner surface of the safe door in any desired position and by any suitable means, as by screws, k, and having a cylindrical seat, K therein,and of a plug, K fitted to said seat and secured therein by means of suitably situated screw threads, is, on said plug and casing, shown clearlyin Figs. 3 and 4. A closed chamber or cavity, K is formed within the dash-pot by removing from the inner end of the pluga substantially segmental portion contained between two planes, parallel with planes passing through the center line of the plug,havingsuch an angular divergence as will give a cavity of desired size, said planes passing at an equal distance from the center line of the plug and beyond the axial planes to which they are parallel, and a third plane perpendicular to the center line of the plug and at such a distance from the end thereof as will provide a cavity of desired length. A radial wing or projection, K of the same length as the cavity or chamber of the dash-pot, is fitted thereto and is rigidly supported upon or made intogral with a shaft or stem, vK having bearings in the end of the casing and in the plug, so situated that the axis of the shaft will be coincident with the center line of the plug or casing; thus as the shaft or stem is rotated the radial wing will move from side to side of the cavity. This wing may be of any desired thickness, but commonly, and as herein shown, the distance of the planes of sides of the dash-pot cavity from the center line of the plug will be equal to one half of the thickness of said wing. Thus in the rotation of the wing of the dash-pot the sides of the cavity therein will form stops limiting the radial movement of the wing and will be so situated that the planes of the sides of the cavity and that of the side of the wing adjacent thereto, will be coincident, when the wing is atthe limit of its movement in either direction. This radial wing K will be so closely fitted at its margins to the walls of the chamber K that, as it ismoved from side to side of said chamber, any liquid which may be contained between said wing and the side of the chamber toward which it is moving, will flow past said wing into the cavity behind it, but slowly, thus preventing the rapid movement of said wing. A stuffing-box for packing the stem or shaft carrying the radial wing, is formed by recessing the plng,as shown at lc Into this recessany suitable packing is placed and forced tightly around the shaft or stem by the gland, K threaded into said recess, as shown at 10 For convenience in adjusting thegland, a head, k is formed on said gland, which is flattened off on opposite sides, 10 so that it may be conveniently grasped by a wrench. On the exterior of the casing is a boss, is, having a hole, 10 therein, leading to the cavity within the dash-pot. This hole is threaded and is adapted to be closed by a screw plug, k

For reasons hereinafter apparent, the cavity within the dash-pot is not shown as made of uniform length or Width between its parallel walls, but is cut away at one end, as shown at on the side toward which, in its operation, the wing will be forced, thus leaving more space for the liquid in said cavity to pass by the wing in this part of its flow. Furthermore, for reasonslikewise hereinafter apparent, the radial wing is shown as provided or valve and will not operate to retard the movement thereof. The plug is shown as provided with a head, K the periphery of which is flush with the outside of the casin g and the relative length of the seat and plug is such that when the plug is screwed in the shoulders formed by the head of the plug, will rest against the end of the casing to which the head is adjacent. Holes k are formed in said head, adapted to be grasped by a spanner wrench in adjusting said plug or in screwing it in or out. On the outer end of the shaft or stem carrying the radial wing, is acrank, K havinga crank-pin, secured therein. The cavity of the dash-pot is filled with any suitable liquid, preferably a noncongealable liquid, and when so filled the dash-pot is ready for use when placed in position and properly connected. In practice it is proposed to employ two of these dashpots in connection with each lock, one for the casting and one for the retracting springs.

Dash-pots are shown as secured to the safe door, one at each side of the lock and connected by means of links, L, L, with the end, Z, of the plate E projecting through the rear end of the lock case and the lug, Z, provided at the front end of the projection D'of the said plate D respectively.

Of the dash-pots shown, one, that connected with the retracting plate D, is adapted to retard the movement of the bolts in retracting the same, and the other, that connected with the casting plate E, is adapted to retard the movement of the bolts in casting; it being obvious that it is desired to modify the movement of the bolts when actuated by the casting and retracting springs, only.

Assuming that the bolts are fully retracted, and it is desired to set the lock, this will be done by rotating the shaft or arbor G so as to move the plate D in such direction as to compress the springs F and F. This movement will operate to rotate the shaft of the dash-pot connected with the said plate and the wing carried thereon. It is not desired, however, that any resistance shall be offered to the movement of the plate D in this direction, and the valve in the wing of said dashpot will accordingly be so arranged that it will be opened by the pressure of the liquid in the cavity of said dash-pot caused by the movement of the wingin this direction. During the process of setting the lock, the stud E on the plate E is in engagement with the detent H, and the plate is thus held stationary. The casting and retracting springs being fully compressed, the next step in theoperation of the lock is the automatic tripping of the detent H, thus releasing the plate E and allowing the casting spring to operate. This spring, having been compressed by setting the lock, will, at the moment of being released, tend to force the plate E suddenly toward the plate 13 or in a direction to cast the bolts of the safe. The valve in the Wing of the dash-pot connected with the plateE will, however, be so arranged that the pressure of the liquid contained in the cavity or chamber of said dash-pot created by the movement of the wing in said cavity, caused by the movement of the plate E with which it is connected, will hold said valve closed, thus forcing the water around the sides of the Wing and securing the desired slow movement of the parts. The bolts being now cast and the retracting springs held in a compressed position by the engagement of the stud D with the detent I, the safe will remain locked until the detent I is tripped by the time mechanism or otherwise, to release the stud D and the retracting plate D in which said stud is secured. VJ hen so released the retracting springs tend to force the retracting plate D, and by means of the intermediate connections, the bolts 13 in a direction to withdraw said bolts. The wing of the dash-pot con nected with the retracting plate is so arranged and constructed that it will be held closed by the pressure of the liquid in said cavity thereupon, thus forcing the liquid around the sides of the wing and securing the slow movement desired.

It is obvious from the construction and relation of the various parts of the lock and dash-pots that the retraction of the bolts will be accompanied by the retraction of the plate E and the consequent rotating of the wing of the dash-pot connected therewith. The direction of this rotation will be opposite to that incident to the casting of the bolts and the valve in the wing of said dash-pot will be so arranged and constructed that it will be opened by the pressure of the liquid contained therein, created by the rotation of the wing in this direction; the liquid will therefore be free to pass to the other side of the Wing without offering any resistance to the movement of the bolts. Were it otherwise a double resistance would be created opposing the movement of the bolts in retracting, which is not necessary as one dash-pot is suificient for the purpose. As the springs F and F approach the limit of their expansion in casting or retracting the bolts, and become more and more extended, they will become correspondingly weaker and will create less pressure on the liquid in the dash-pot affected thereby; and it the space for the passage of the liquid to the opposite side of the wing were of uniform size at all points of its stroke, the liquid would flow and the bolts would move more ICC slowly as the pressure became less. To obviate this the end of the cavity formed by the plug is slightly cut away so that the space for the passage of the fluid ,will become larger as the pressure becomes weaker, and thus a practically uniform movement of the bolts is secured.

From the explanation of the construction and method of operation of the dash-pots, it is obvious that where two dash-pots are used, as shown in the drawings, they will have to be what may be termed right and'lefthanded; that is to say, the arrangement and construction of the valve and the position of the cut away portion of the cavity therein will be such that rotation in opposite directions will produce similar effects and rotation in the same direction will produce opposite effects.

It is obvious that dash-pots of this improved construction are equally adapted for use in connection with safe locks of any type operating for the same purpose as that of the lock shown.

The dash-pot illustrated, while especially adapted and intended for use in connection with bolt-actuating devices, as herein shown and described, contains features of novelty which may be applied to dash-pots used for other purposes.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with bolts of a safe and springs for actuating the same, of a dash-pot applied to control the expansion of the springs, comprising a casing, an oscillating Wing located therein, and a rock -shaft passing through the Wall of the casing and supporting the wing, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination with bolts of a safe and springs for actuating the same, of a dash pot applied to control the expansion of the springs comprising a casing, an oscillating wing located therein, a rock shaft passing through the wall of the casing and supporting the wing, and a check valve located in a passage connecting the parts of the chamber at opposite sides of the wing whereby the movement of the wing will be retarded in one direction only, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a spring actuated mechanism of a retarding device for securing a uniform movement of said mechanism, comprising a casing adapted to contain a liquid and a closely fitting radial wing mounted to oscillate within said casing, the interior of. the casing being formed of gradually increasing area toward the end of the retarding movement of the wing, whereby the resistance to the movement of the wing gradually decreases as the actuating force of the spring decreases, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the bolts of a safe and casting, and retracting springs for actuating the same, of two dash-pots separately applied to control the casting and retracting springs, said dash pots each consisting of a casing, an oscillating wing located therein, a rock shaft passing through the wall of the casing and supporting the wing, and a checkvalve located in a passage connecting the parts of the chamber at opposite sides of the wing, the check valves in the two dash pots being oppositely arranged so that the wing of one dash pot may move freely when that of the other dash ,pot is retarded, substantially as described.

5. The combination, substantially as herein set forth, with the casting and retracting springs, of a bolt actuating device, of dashpots respectively adapted to control the action of said casting and retracting springs, said dash-pots being provided with check-valves in passages connecting opposite ends of the fluid chambers thereof, so that each dash-pot will operate independently ofthe other, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claimthe foregoing as my inventionI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUSTUS G. BURTON. Witnesses: i

C. CLARENCE PooLE,

GEORGE W. HIGGINS, Jr. 

